Donn B. Tatum (January 9, 1913 – May 31, 1993) was an American businessman and the first non-Disney family member to be an executive of Walt Disney Productions. Tatum held senior leadership positions with Disney for 25 years, becoming president from 1968 to 1971, when he became CEO from 1971 until 1980. His final position was "Director Emeritus" from 1992 until his death. He played a major role in the creation of Walt Disney World Resort, EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland.
He held a number of co. positions and served as counsel for RCA, NBC and ABC. He became general manager of KABC-TV in Los Angeles and Western television director for ABC.
Walt Disney CompanyEdit
Tatum joined Disney as production business manager in 1956 and in 1971, became chief executive and board chairman following the death of Roy O. Disney — becoming the first non-Disney family member to head the company. Tatum served as CEO until November 1976 and as chairman.
On June 3, 1980, he retired as chairman and CEO of Disney Productions turning over the company to Card Walker. He stayed on the Disney board as executive committee chair.[2]
He was CalArts board chairman and president of the Disney Foundation, California Broadcasting Assn., United Cerebral Palsy Assn. and Stanford Club of Los Angeles.
Tatum died on May 31, 1993, of cancer at his home in Pacific Palisades. Then Disney CEO Michael Eisner, and President Frank Wells said "He served as a director of the company until his resignation last year, when he was named director emeritus. The world will miss Donn, but we at Disney who looked to him for wisdom, guidance and balance will miss him more."[4][5]
ReferencesEdit
^"Donn B Tatum in Social Security Death Index". Fold3. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
^"FORMER DISNEY CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE DONN TATUM DIES". bloomberg.com. 2 June 1993. Retrieved 5 February 2023. Donn B. Tatum, former president and chairman of the board of The Walt Disney Co., died of cancer at his home in Pacific Palisades on Monday, following a lengthy illness. He was 80.
^"Donn Benjamin Tatum (1913-1993) Grave Site | BillionGraves". BillionGraves. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
donn, tatum, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2009. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Donn Tatum news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Donn B Tatum January 9 1913 May 31 1993 was an American businessman and the first non Disney family member to be an executive of Walt Disney Productions Tatum held senior leadership positions with Disney for 25 years becoming president from 1968 to 1971 when he became CEO from 1971 until 1980 His final position was Director Emeritus from 1992 until his death He played a major role in the creation of Walt Disney World Resort EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland Donn TatumBornDonn B Tatum 1913 01 09 January 9 1913DiedMay 31 1993 1993 05 31 aged 80 Los Angeles California U S OccupationEntertainment industry executive Contents 1 Early life 2 Walt Disney Company 3 Public service 4 Death 5 ReferencesEarly life EditTatum was born on January 9 1913 1 He grew up in Los Angeles and graduated magna cum laude from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and earned two law degrees from Oxford University He passed the California bar in 1938 and became involved in entertainment law at Lillick Geary and McHose He held a number of co positions and served as counsel for RCA NBC and ABC He became general manager of KABC TV in Los Angeles and Western television director for ABC Walt Disney Company EditTatum joined Disney as production business manager in 1956 and in 1971 became chief executive and board chairman following the death of Roy O Disney becoming the first non Disney family member to head the company Tatum served as CEO until November 1976 and as chairman On June 3 1980 he retired as chairman and CEO of Disney Productions turning over the company to Card Walker He stayed on the Disney board as executive committee chair 2 In 1993 Tatum was named a Disney Legend 3 Public service EditHe was CalArts board chairman and president of the Disney Foundation California Broadcasting Assn United Cerebral Palsy Assn and Stanford Club of Los Angeles Tatum was a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts London and an honorary member of the Academy of Television Arts amp Sciences and Hollywood Radio amp Television Society He served as a board member of The Huntington Library California State Fair and Exposition Los Angeles Philharmonic Association Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Better Business Bureau of Los Angeles the John Tracy Clinic Western Digital Union Oil Bank of America and Greyhound Lines Death EditTatum died on May 31 1993 of cancer at his home in Pacific Palisades Then Disney CEO Michael Eisner and President Frank Wells said He served as a director of the company until his resignation last year when he was named director emeritus The world will miss Donn but we at Disney who looked to him for wisdom guidance and balance will miss him more 4 5 References Edit Donn B Tatum in Social Security Death Index Fold3 Retrieved 2021 04 13 The New York Times June 4 1980 Page D1 D23 1 Donn Tatum FORMER DISNEY CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE DONN TATUM DIES bloomberg com 2 June 1993 Retrieved 5 February 2023 Donn B Tatum former president and chairman of the board of The Walt Disney Co died of cancer at his home in Pacific Palisades on Monday following a lengthy illness He was 80 Donn Benjamin Tatum 1913 1993 Grave Site BillionGraves BillionGraves Retrieved 2017 09 04 Business positionsPreceded byRoy O Disney President of The Walt Disney Company1968 1971 Succeeded byCard WalkerPreceded byRoy O Disney CEO of The Walt Disney Company1971 1976 Succeeded byCard WalkerPreceded byRoy O Disney Chairman of The Walt Disney Company1971 1980 Succeeded byCard Walker nbsp This business related biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Disney related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Donn Tatum amp oldid 1178367096, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
